Music, blindingly GREAT music.

Artist: Hot LegAlbum: Red Light FeverFavorite track: I’ve Met Jesus
Justin Hawkins can singlehandedly keep the glam alive. Songs like Chickens, I’ve Met Jesus, Gay In The 80’s are fun and irresistable. He is over the top, right where he belongs!

When Justin Hawkins quit The Darkness, I’ll admit…I was disappointed. More than a guilty pleasure, I absolutely loved The Darkness, and was sad to see them ago. They were the first “rock” band I got into of my own accord (Green Day were nearly that band, but my friends recommended them in 2002), and I’ll always have soft spot for Permission To Land.

From the ashes of The Darkness came two bands- Stone Gods and Hot Leg. Whilst Stone Gods gave me my favourite album of 2008, Hot Leg released their debut Red Light Fever. After seeing Hot Leg in my hometown the summer before this was release, I was expecting great things from the new material, and I definitely wasn’t disappointed. Whilst some tracks are merely “good” rather than “great”, there’s nothing bad on here, and it’s a nice nod back to when music was cheesy, but just damn fun.

I was a massive fan of the Darkness, and I know that’s an unpopular thing to admit in some circles. Nevertheless, I was saddened when they broke up, as I think that Justin Hawkins is a really gifted (if immature) songwriter. Luckily, the debut effort by his next band sounded very much like the Darkness Part II. It’s not a perfect record, but the highlights are very high. Most importantly, it’s a lot of fun. The band is unashamed when it comes to the much maligned genre of 80’s pomp rock. Surprising, then, was the real artistry displayed here. The songs that aren’t intentionally tongue-in-cheek are impressive on a whole different level.

Hot Leg have decided to bring Christmas forward this year and reduce the prices on all Hot Leg t-shirts available via their online store. All shirts are now £5 (or equivalent in your currency) and will stay at that price until they are all gone. Several items have already sold out, so if you were thinking of getting a loved one the perfect Christmas gift (yes this is extremely early for buying Christmas presents) then you need to click on the merch link, fast.